[EAI National Security Panel Report] Top 10 Tasks for Korean Diplomacy in 2020: Executive Summary

An Executive Summary report containing key policy proposals from the "Top 10 Tasks for Korean Diplomacy in 2020" project, which has been ongoing since March 2011 under the National Security Panel (chaired by Ha Young-sun, Chairman of the East Asia Institute), has been published. The National Security Panel conducted complex research, considering network connections between issues, centered around four clusters: 'Governance,' 'Security,' 'Economy,' and 'Environment,' to prospect and analyze the challenges facing Korean diplomacy in the 2010s from a mid-to-long-term perspective and propose concrete policies.

This report is based on the following NSP Report series.

Governance Cluster

Changes in US-China Relations and Future Diplomatic Tasks for Korea

Chung Jae-sung (Seoul National University), Ju Jae-woo (Kyung Hee University)

Security Cluster

Future Security Order in Asia and Korea's Response Strategy

Lee Dong-sun (Korea University)

Changes in China's Politics and Economy and Prospects for Stability

Lee Dong-ryul (Dongduk Women's University), Seo Bong-kyo (Dongduk Women's University)

Kim Jong-un's North Korea and Co-Prosperity/Complex Coexistence North Korea Policy

Kim Sung-bae (Institute for National Security Strategy)

Tasks and Prospects for Korean Maritime Policy in the 2010s

Koo Min-kyo (Seoul National University)

Economy Cluster

The Spread of FTAs in Asia and Korea's Strategy: Focusing on the Potential for Multilateralization of Bilateralism

Kim Chi-wook (University of Ulsan)

The Changing Global Financial Order and Korea's Choices: Linking Regional and Global Multilateralism

Lee Yong-wook (Korea University)

Changes in the 21st Century Development Cooperation Architecture and Korea

Lee Seung-joo (Chung-Ang University)

Environment Cluster

International Politics of Environment and Climate Change and Korean Diplomacy

Shin Beom-sik (Seoul National University)

Population Aging and Northeast Asian Security

Shin Sung-ho (Seoul National University)

The New Global Energy Architecture and the Direction of Korea's Energy and Resource Cooperation Diplomacy

Kim Yeon-gyu (Hanyang University)

Strategic Goals and 10-Point Program for Korean Diplomacy in 2020

3 Strategic Goals

1. Construct a "Symbiotic Complex Network" for a New East Asian Order.

2. Resolve North Korean issues through a "Co-Prosperity Strategy" and establish new inter-Korean relations.

3. Actively participate in designing global and regional governance through "Middle Power Diplomacy."

10-Point Program

1. Secure "systemic flexibility" to peacefully manage changes in the East Asian balance of power. First, maximize the utility of the ROK-US alliance by transforming it into a strategic complex alliance suited to the changes in the 21st-century world order, thereby securing Korea's standing at the Korean Peninsula, regional, and global levels.

2. Simultaneously, expand cooperation networks with China in various areas. Pursue both the deepening of the ROK-US complex alliance and the substantive enhancement of the ROK-China strategic cooperative partnership in the process of forming a new type of US-China "major power relationship."

3. Attempt a three-stage approach to fundamentally resolve conflicts with Japan. In the short term, de-politicize current issues; in the mid-term, lead bilateral relations based on complex power; and in the long term, pursue institutionalization of cooperation and shared identity. Pay attention to Russia's role in the East Asian region and its role in establishing a peace and prosperity regime on the Korean Peninsula, thereby deepening strategic cooperative relations with Russia.

4. Enhance Korea's influence by building networks with middle powers in the region. Propose alternative architectures that strengthen cooperation networks with ASEAN countries, Australia, and India.

5. Strive to resolve maritime disputes in the region. Based on a freeze declaration on territorial disputes, promote multilateral cooperation in non-traditional security areas such as joint resource development, marine environmental protection, and navigational safety to reach a multilateral consensus on all maritime issues.

6. Promote a "Co-Prosperity Strategy" as a new paradigm for North Korea policy. In Phase 1, assist North Korea in evolving towards a non-nuclear security system instead of its military-first policy. Synchronize the establishment of a complex peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, linking South Korea, the US, China, and the UN, with North Korea's transition to a non-nuclear, economy-first model.

7. In Phase 2 of the Co-Prosperity Strategy, pursue systematic North Korean support encompassing humanitarian aid and support for regime transition. Aim for North Korea's normalization and new inter-Korean relations.

8. Actively engage in knowledge-based network diplomacy, focusing on trade, finance, and development cooperation, for the stable and balanced growth of the Korean and global economies.

9. Enhance Korea's global standing by actively participating in designing governance for global coexistence in emerging issue areas such as environment/energy/population, culture, and information/knowledge.

10. As diplomatic actors become increasingly complex domestically and internationally, pursue customized public diplomacy that builds two-way communication with various actors. Externally, leverage soft power assets such as knowledge, economic development experience, and the Korean Wave to expand universal interests and Korea's influence. Internally, establish a diplomatic culture befitting middle power diplomacy and achieve domestic integration beyond inter-Korean conflicts.

In the future, Korea must establish its own long-term and comprehensive diplomatic strategy not only at the Korean Peninsula level but also at the regional and global levels. Korea's strategic vision in East Asia is to reduce strategic distrust between the US and China for the construction of a symbiotic complex network in East Asia, secure systemic flexibility to peacefully absorb and develop the power transition in East Asia over the next decade, and secure the peaceful power transition process based on new regional institutions. In this process, Korea must maximize the utility of the ROK-US alliance by transforming it into a strategic complex alliance and secure its standing at the Korean Peninsula, regional, and global levels. Simultaneously, in the strategic cooperative partnership with China, Korea must solidify cooperation on specific issues and expand multi-dimensional networks beyond intergovernmental relations. Through this, it is necessary to manage the US-China relationship to prevent strategic distrust from escalating due to conflicts over "core interests" and falling into a security dilemma.

Given the structural changes in the East Asian balance of power, the persistent North Korean threat, indirect ROK-US-Japan cooperation centered on the alliance, and cooperation in human security at the regional and global levels, ROK-Japan relations are a critical issue. In the short term, prevent situations where historical issues and territorial disputes become politicized and hinder bilateral cooperation. In the mid-term, strive to proactively shape ROK-Japan cooperative relations by strengthening hard power in military and economic areas, soft power in knowledge, culture, and institutions, and network power. In the long term, work towards institutionalizing cooperation and forming and sharing regional identity in East Asia to fundamentally resolve closed, nationalistic conflicts.

Russia can play a role as a facilitator or stabilizer in building East Asian cooperation networks and can influence Korean Peninsula issues based on policy tools such as resources and ROK-Russia relations. Australia, India, and ASEAN countries are also important partners for regional and Korean Peninsula cooperation and are important partners for strengthening cooperation with middle powers. Korea needs to take a leading role in strengthening cooperation frameworks for the benefit of the entire region desired by middle powers amidst US-China strategic competition, while also developing regional multilateralism. To date, East Asian multilateral cooperation has taken the form of institutional balance to maximize national interests; it is necessary to overcome this and build a network of institutions for common purposes.

Maritime issues in East Asia are complexly intertwined with issues of boundary demarcation, resources, territorial claims, and navigation routes, making them difficult to resolve through unilateral or bilateral efforts by any single country. Therefore, based on a freeze declaration on territorial disputes, which are difficult to resolve immediately, efforts should be made to promote regional multilateral cooperation to secure non-traditional security, such as joint resource development, regional marine environmental protection, and ensuring navigational safety. At this time, it is necessary to approach territorial issues, fishing issues, seabed resource development issues, and environmental issues separately as much as possible, and based on cooperation in these specific areas, ultimately lead to a mutually beneficial multilateral consensus on all maritime issues... (continued)